Smoke and mirrors
I enjoyed West Hawaii Today’s April 11 article about the golf course debate in Waikoloa Village. The comments to that article were even better, particularly those from Mr. Roger Hansen. Mr. Hansen claims there is nothing to worry about. We simply dissolve the Waikoloa Village Association and the county will gladly take over responsibility for the funding and operation of Waikoloa Village amenities, including the golf course.
What Mr. Hansen fails to mention is that 75 percent of WVA members must approve dissolution of the association. Total voter turnout has averaged no more than 35 percent in recent memory, so it will be impossible to get 75 percent of the total membership to vote for dissolution.
Furthermore, assuming the 75 percent threshold was attained, does anyone truly believe the mayor will bailout Waikoloa Village? County tax revenue is already stretched to the limit trying to fund projects of urgent need. Waikoloa Village’s problems in no way meet the definition of urgent need.
I don’t know when these crazy proposals will come to an end. First, TMT was going to come and solve our problems, now the county is going to bail us out. What’s next? Is the Tooth Fairy going to come and save Waikoloa Village?
All of these far-fetched proposals have but one purpose and that is to divert our attention from the property value issue. Property values suffer when a golf course closes. Google it! You might find one or two articles that say otherwise, but if you objectively examine the preponderance of the evidence, there is no doubt about it. Property values suffer when a golf course closes. This is the one issue opponents of the golf course do not want to talk about. When it comes time to vote, if ever, the property value issue will outweigh all other philosophical arguments. The voters will not be fooled!
Richard Gillette
Waikoloa Village
Remember, it’s America first
Trump is outraged. Well, Syria is not a clear and present danger to America. North Korea is a very clear and present danger to Japan, Guam, and Hawaii.
Forget about Syria, defend America first!
Mr. Trump, get your priorities right. How outraged will he be when Honolulu is vaporized? Yes, Syria is a mess and babies have been dying for years in Syria. That is a very bad thing.
But.
Kim Jong Un is completely crazy and he has stated his intentions to kill Americans with nuclear bombs. That is worse than Syrian babies being gassed. We are close to the beginning of World War III. If either North Korea or the U.S. fire missiles, nuclear or not, WWIII will happen. Syria will be forgotten in a nuclear flash.
Can Trump take the lead in reducing the danger of war with North Korea? I do not have a high degree of confidence that Trump is up to the task. He is not a diplomat. Kim Jong Un does not know the meaning of the word. So where does that leave Hawaii?
Tom Beach
Waimea